All-electric commuter motorcycle
Our world is changing and so, too, is motorcycling. Need proof ? Look no farther than the all-electric Brammo Enertia.
New for 2010, the Enertia is the brainchild of Craig Bramscher, a dot-com millionaire who got this start in the transportation industry building gas-engined Ariel Atom sportscars under British license at his small factory in Oregon. Longterm plans called for a full line of four-wheelers, including an electric model. While those designs never saw production, Brammo currently builds as many as a dozen Enertias per day.
Component count for the 329-pound Enertia is low compared to even the simplest internal-combustion-engined motorcycle and, according to Brammo, just 10 percent of what's needed to build a car. Many of those parts, such as the plastic bodywork and portions of seat, are made from recycled goods.
Two extruded aluminum spars trace a direct path from the steering head to the sealed, brushless, permanent-magnet AC motor - good for 17 peak horsepower and 44 foot-pounds of torque on the CW dynamometer. "Shelves" between said spars hold six 14-pound lithium-iron-phosphate batteries connected in series.
Quality hardware was sourced from Brembo (disc brakes), Marzocchi (inverted fork) and Elka (shock). Final drive is via chain. Handlebar switch-gear is clean and simple. Getting rolling couldn't be easier. After completing a simple, three-step starting procedure, just twist the throttle and away you go - no clutch to fan, no gearbox to toe, just smooth (if not rapid) acceleration. The farther you open the throttle, the faster you go - up to a top speed of 61 mph. Bomb along at max velocity for miles at a stretch and you'll discharge the batteries in no time. Go easy, freewheeling to stops, and you can expect to get 30-35 miles, maybe more, from a complete charge. Recharging takes 3-4 hours using the supplied power cord and a 110-volt standard outlet. The LCD dash notifies you when juice dips below 20 percent.
Thanks to the wide handlebar, quick steering, sportbike like 55.9-inch wheelbase and relatively narrow 18-inch- fornt and 17-inch-rear Avon RoadRiders, handling is light and responsive. The solo saddle is narrow, but if you slide back a bit, there's sufficient padding - at least for the relatively short hops that the Enertia will be taking. The ride is on the harsh side of firm and the brakes have decent feel, though stopping distances can be 20-25 percent longer than they are with most current motorcycles.
Last November, Brammo lowered the suggested retail price of the Enertia from $11,995 to $7995. Factor in a 10 percent Federal Tax Credit and the price drops to $7195; some states offer additional incentives. Plus, with a $2000 down payment and credit approval through retailer Best Buy, you can ride away on an Enertia for $249 per month with 0 percent interest for 24 months. The world is indeed changing, and Brammo wants to be part of it. You can be, too - one outlet at a time.
0 comment:
Post a Comment